Dust separator



Feb. 13, 1934. T, BIETH 1,946,665

DUST SEPARATOR l ATroRNEY Feb. 13, 1934. T. c. Blf-:TH 1,946,665

DUST SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 20, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l ENToR PatentedFeb. 13, 1934 lPAT/ENT ,OFFICE 1,946,665 DUST vsEPARA'roa Tom ConradBith, Alston, Sweden, assignor to Electrolux Corporation, Dover, Del., acorporation Vof Delaware Application February 20, 1932, Serial No.594,181,

and in Germany February 27, V1931 1r claims. (ci. 18a-5s) This inventionrelates to dust separators for vacuum cleaners.

In accordance with the present invention, a frusta-conical dustseparation member, preferably of cloth, is employed, which is folded tozigzag form, and is mounted on supports, certainv of which are movablefor shaking the dust separation member and removing dust or the liketherefrom. The invention also provides means associated with the dustseparation member adapted to cause a reverse air current therethroughfor assisting in the removal of dust or the like.

Various other features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

Fig. l is a side elevation, partly in sectionl of a vacuum cleanerhaving a dust separation member constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of la detail;

Fig. 3 is a view looking into the cover of the vacuum cleaner with thedust separation cloth removed;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the dust separation member inexpanded position; and a Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in sectionshowing a modified form of apparatus embodying the invention.

In the various figures, similar parts have been identiied by likereference characters. Al-

though certain speciflc terms are used for con' venience in the presentspecification and claims, it is to be understood that they are to begiven as broad an interpretation as the state of the art will permit.

The vacuum cleaner illustrated includes a. cylindrical barrel 10, ofmetal or other air impermeable material, which is removably supported,with its axis vertical, on a lower frame member 12. A motor 11 issupported on frame 12, also on a vertical axis. The motor is providedwith a housing lla, having a plurality of heat radiating fins formedthereon, over which the main air current of the cleaner is adapted topass. A multi-stage centrifugal fan or blower 17 is mounted on the motorshaft for drawing air over said motor and forcing the air to a dischargechamber llc, from which air is discharged through a plurality of louvers11d or through a blower opening 21, suitable valve mechanism beingprovided, for this purpose.

The motor is enclosed in a shield 23 having a perforated top and whichis spaced from housing 11a.

A central air tube 15 is mounted within barrel 10 in alignment with saidmotor and is provided with an enlarged section 16 which is adapted to 00pass over shield 23. The parts 10 and 15 are joined at the bottom andtogether form a dust collector. A roll packing 24 is located betweenshield.l 23 and the enlarged section 16 to provide an air and dust seal.The arrangement is such that the dust collector 10, 15, 16 may beremoved from the frame 12 in order to be emptied without disturbing orexposing the motor. Frame 12 is mounted on wheels 18 and 19, by

which the entire cleaner is supported and may 7o j be readily moved overa surface. such as the floor. A removable cover 13 is supported onbarrel 10. and is attached thereto by suitable means such as lockingmembers 14 which 'are carried 75 on the cover and engage a suitableange'on the barrel 10. A suction opening 20 is formed in the barrel 10,and is adapted to receive the suction hose.

.A handle 22 is mounted on cover 13, and is se- 80 cured thereto byspacing members 28 and .bolts 29, which parts are sufliciently rigid inconstruc-A tion to permit the entire cleaner to be moved thereby.r

Secured within cover 13 by means of the bolts 85 29 is a bracket 27.Bracket 27 serves as a mounting for a support 30 for holding an innerend retaining ring or annular member 26 of a dust separation unitpresently to be described. Parts l 27 and 30 may be secured together byrivets. A 90 roll packing 25 is provided between tube 15 and annularmember 26 to provide an air and dust seal and at the same time to permitsaid member 26 to be readily applied to or removed from said tube.

The cover is formed with a depressed portion 32, centrally arrangedtherein, centrally of which there is slidably mounted an agitator stem33. The lower end of stem 33 passes through an opening 34 in bracket 27,and in support 30 100 connected thereto. A disc-like cap 35 is carriedon the upper end of stem 33 and is adapted to enter the recess formed bythe depressed portion A transverse horizontal bar 36, which is pre!- 105erably slightly resilient, is carried on stem 33 and extends at rightangles to frame 27. A compression spring 37 surrounds stem 33 andextends between bracket 27 and bar 36 for maintaining bar 36 in anelevated position. Bar 36 110 carries two concentric rings 38 and 39having portions of' circular cross-section and flanges 48 and 49,respectively, as shown more in detail in Fig. 2, which are adapted tosupport portions of the dust separation member to be described. A pairof holding members 40 are also mounted on the cover 13 as by the bolts29, and carry a ring 41 which is supported thereby in a xecl position.-Rings 38, 39 and 41 are preferably formed of metal strips which arebent in circular form without sharp edges which would injure theseparator cloth.

The dust separation unit comprises a cloth dust separation member 42which is made in the form of a truncated cone as illustrated in Fig. 4and is secured to annular member or inner ring 26 and an outer endretaining ring 43 by any suitable means, such as string or riveting orthe like. Ring 43 is provided with a lateral flange 43a, which carries apacking member 44 of rubber or similar elastic material. Packing member44 is adapted to engage a ringshaped flange or offset portion 45 oncover 13, and is secured between said flange and the upper part of thedust collector 10. Annular member 26 with the dust separation member 42attached thereto is adapted to slide over support 30 into the positionshown in Fig. 1. Support 30 is provided with spring portions 46, whichare adapted to engage or snap into depressions in ring 26 formaintaining the same in assembled position. Said spring portions 46,however, may be omitted, if desired, and annular member 26 may looselyengage the support 30.

Cloth member 42 may be secured to rings 38 and 39 by split clampingrings 47 which are preferably so dimensioned that the rings may beapplied by causing the ends to overlap and may be locked by extendingthe same to bring their ends into mutual engagement, and to therebyclamp the cloth member 42 between said rings and the annular flanges 48and 49, respectively, of rings 38 and 39.

In the above described device, member 42 is positioned by first removingcover 13 and then mounting outer end ring 43 with its flange 43a againstthe corresponding portion 45 of the cover. Thereafter the inner annularmember or end ring 26 is snapped over support 30. The attaching of thedust separation unit to rings 38 and 39 is facilitated by depressing thestem 33. This may be accomplished manually, and a block of suitable sizeinserted between cap 35 and handle 22 for maintaining stem 33 indepressed condition. The split rings 47 are then inserted in theposition illustrated in Fig. 2 for firmly securing filter 42 to rings 38and 39. Thereafter; the block may be removed from between cap 35 andhandle 22 for permitting stem 33 and rings 38 and 39 to snap back intothe position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which the dust separation chamberis tightly stretched. It is to be noted that the tension of the dustseparating chamber will tend to maintain annular member 26 in engagementwith support 30, so that said parts will be held in engaging position,regardless of the action of members 46.

It will be seen that in this process the cloth is folded or plaited sothat it has a zigzag crosssection, as shown. The edges of folding arecircular. The upper edges are in the same plane; likewise the loweredges are in the same plane.

With the dust separation member in position, cover 13 may be applied tobarrel 10. so that packing 44 is clamped between the barrel and thecover, ring 26 at the same time being inserted over roll packing 25which surrounds tubular member 15. 'I'he cover may then be secured bylocking members 14 above described.

In the operation of the above device, air is drawn through suctionopening 20 into the dust collector, and is then passed upwardly throughdust separation member 42 and into the chamber above the dust separationmember and between the dust separation member and the cover. Thence theair passes downwardly through dust tube 15, through the top of shield 23over the motor housing 11a, and is expelled by means of fan 17 intoexhaust chamber llc. As the air passes through the cleaner in the mannerabove described the dust is removed therefrom by the dust separationmember 42 and is caused to fall into the dust collector 10. The enlargedarea of the dust collector with respect to the area of the air inletalso assists the separation of the dust by slowing the air stream andpermitting the larger particles to fall directly into the dustcollector.

During continued use of the machine, the lower surface of the dustseparation member may tend to become clogged with dust or other materialwhich would eventually interrupt the operation of the machine if it wereallowed to accumulate thereon. Such materials, however,

may be readily removed by alternately pressing and releasing cap 35(preferably quickly so as to give a snap action), whereby rings 38 and39 are moved and vibrated and cause a corresponding movement andvibration of the cloth surface. It is to be noted that when said ringsare depressed, the portions of dust separation member 42 which engagethe same are moved downwardly with respect to the cover 13, and the sizeof the air chamber within the cover is increased. When the cap 35 isquickly released, spring 37 causes the above members to snap back intotheir original position and thereby compress the air within said chamberand cause a flow of air through the dust separation member in thedirection opposite to the normal flow during operation of the machine.This air current assists in removing the dust particles from said dustseparation member. The above action is in part accomplished due to thefact that the air resistance of the motor enclosure and fan 17 isgreater than the air resistance of the dust separation cloth. The dustseparation member may be vibrated so as to provide pulsations of airtherethrough.

When the dust separation member is lintermittently cleaned by the abovedescribed means, the vacuum cleaner may be operated for indefiniteperiods of time without requiring removal or replacement of the dustseparation member, the operation being interrupted when necessary toremove the cover and empty the dust collector.

It is to be noted that when the cover is thus removed, the tension ofthe dust separation cloth serves to maintain annular member .or innerring 26 and outer ring 43 in position against support 30 and againstcover 13, respectively.

In the modified form of support illustrated in Fig. 5, stem 33 is shownas carrying a pair of cross-bars 50 and 51. Said bars extend through atube 52 whichis secured to cover 13 and is provided with slits 54 inwhich said bars are adapted to slide. The lower part of tube 52 carriesa cross-member 53 through which rod 33 is Loiseau guided. Betweencross-members 50 and 51 and cross-members 53, spring 37 is seated andserves a purpose similar to that described in Figs. 1 to 4. Tube 52 isalso provided with slits 55, which permit the free passage of airtherethrough. Resilient clamping means 56 are f mounted on members 50andare adapted to receive the cloth member 42. Supports 57 are also carriedby cover 13 and support a ring 58 which engages the dust separationcloth in a manner similar to ring 4l above described. Dust separationcloth 42 may be secured to tube 52 by detachable clamping means 59, inwhich case the lower part of said tube is extended over packing 25 and,in this respect, replaces annular member 26 of Fig. 1. The cloth membermay be held within exible clamps 56 by means of annular clamping rings60, which snap within said clamps and normally maintain the cloth in engagement therewith. The operation of the above described form of theinvention is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 to 4.

Although certain preferred forms of the invention have been illustratedfor purposes of disclosure, it is obvious that various substitutions andmodifications may be made by those skilled in the art, without departingfrom the broader aspects of the invention, which is to be limited onlyin accordance with the scope of the following claims. g,

What I claim is:

l. In a vacuum cleaner, a support for a folded, conical dust separationmember comprising end retaining rings, movable rings supportingintermediate folds of said member, and split clamping rings for clampingsaid member to said movable rings.

2. A support for a dust separation member comprising an annular membercomprising an annular ring portion having an annular flange securedthereto and a clamping ring engaging said flange and ring portion forclamping a cloth member therebetween.

3. In a vacuum cleaner of the vertical type having an annular dustcollector and an internal, axially extending air pipe, a cover for saiddust collector, and a dust separation member mounted between said dustcollector and said cover, said member being folded into zigzag form,means to normally produce now ofv air through said dust separationmember to said air pipe, a plurality of means for supporting the foldsof said member, certain of said means being movable for shaking saidmember and compressible means adapted to be quickly released for causinga counter-current of air to pass through the dust `separation member dueto expension of the compressible means during the shaking operation.

4. In a vacuum cleaner of the vertical type having a casing member, acover secured to said casing member, a dust separation member mountedwithin said cover and bent back upon itself into zigzag form, means fornormally passing dust-laden air upwardly through said duct separationmember to deposit dust on the under surface thereof, said dustseparation member having a plurality of upper and lower supportingpoints, stationary means for mounting said lower points with respect tosaid cover. a movable support for said upper points, and means fornormally maintaining said upper supports in elevated position wherebysaid dust separation member is held under tension.

5. In a vacuum cleaner of the vertical type, a

casing member, a cover mounted thereon, a plurality of lower concentricsupporting rings and a plurality of upper concentric supporting ringsmounted in said cover, said upper rings being movably mounted, a dustseparation member lfolded back and forth between said upper and lowerrings, means for normally passing dustladen air upwardly through saiddust separation member to deposit dust on the under side thereof, andresilient means associated with said upper rings for normallymaintaining said dust separation member under tension.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a vertical casing member providing a dustcollector, an air tube located centrally thereof, a cover associatedwith said casing member, an outer( ring clamped between said cover andsaid casing member, an inner annular member engaging said air tube, asupport for said annular member mounted on said cover, a movable supportmounted on said cover, a dust separation member connected to said outerring and said inner member, resilient means associated with said movablesupport for normally holding said dust separation member under tension,and means extending through said cover to compress said resilient meansand to permit the tension therein to be released'for shaking said dustseparation member for cleaning purposes.

7. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing memi ber, a cover mountedthereon, a dust separation member, concentric end retaining ringscarrying said dust separation member, means associated with said coverfor supporting said rings, an intermediate movable ring engaging saiddust separation member, and means to maintain said movable ring andthereby said dust separation member under tension, the tension being insuch direction that said end retaining rings are held ma within saidcover thereby.

8. In a vacuum cleaner having a casing member, a cover therefor, afrustro-conical dustseparation unit, means for clamping a portion ofsaid unit between said cover and said casing member, supporting meanscarried by said cover for supporting another portion of said unit,intermediate supporting means carried by said cover, means to normallymaintain said intermediate supporting means and thereby said unit undertension, and means for releasing said intermediate supporting means forshaking said unit forcleaning purposes, the tension of said unit servingto maintain the same in engagement with said cover and with said firstmentioned supporting means when said cover is removed from said casing.

9. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing, a zigzag dust separation membermounted therein and 'providing a dust `collecting space on one sidethereof and an air chamber von the other side thereof, means forsupplying dust-laden air to said dust collecting space, means forwithdrawing air from said air chamber, means for manually movingalternate bends 4of said dust separation member to decrease the dustcollecting space and increase the size of said air chamber, and springmeans adapted to be released to snap said alternate bends back todecrease the size of the air chamber and cause i'low of air from the airchamber to the dust collecting chamber to shake and blow dust of! the.dust separation member.

10. In a vacuum cleaner, a casing having an outer wall and a centralpassage and a cover, said central passage having an enlarged portion,

a motor in said enlarged portion, a 1an driven by said motor, a zigzagdust separation member mounted in said casing and providing a dustcollecting space on one side thereof around said central passage and anair chamber on the other side thereof communicating with said centralpassage, means to supply dust-laden air to said space, means formanually moving said dust separation member to decrease the size of thedust collecting space and increase the size of the air chamber, andspring means adapted to be released to snap said dust separation memberto decrease the size of the air chamber and cause ow of air from the airchamber to the dust collecting chamber to shake and blow dust oil thedust separation member.

TOM CONRAD BITH.

